India, Qatar sign agreement to check money laundering, terror funding

Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed bilateral issues with Qatar Emir Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani in Doha on Sunday and both the countries signed seven bilateral agreements on tourism, health, investments in skill development and education sectors, and others. Modi was in Doha as part of his five-nation tour that began on Saturday.

Some of the memorandums of understanding (MoUs) signed between the two countries focused on finance intelligence to monitor money laundering and terrorism financing, Press Trust of India reported. The agreements were signed by the officials of the two countries in the presence of Modi and Al Thani.

Qatar Investment Authority and External Affairs Ministry signed an agreement wherein the Gulf state would invest in India's National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF), which was established last year to boost infrastructure financing in India.

Finance Intelligence Unit â€“ India (FIU-IND) and the Qatar Financial Information Unit (QFIU) signed one MoU that would monitor the funding to India from Qatar.

One MoU was signed between the Indian Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, and Qatar's National Qualifications Authority/Supreme Educational Council, and another for Cooperation in tourism, Indo-Asian News Service reported.

The two countries signed one MoUs for cooperation in health, youth and sports sector. Modi reached Qatar, which is the largest gas exporter to India, on Saturday evening and met his counterpart Abdullah Bin Nasser Bin Khalifa Al Thani and later visited Workers' Camp in Msheireb Downtown Doha.

Modi embarked on a five-nation tour on Saturday with a visit to Afghanistan. His second destination was Qatar after which he will visit Switzerland, the United States and Mexico.